Pope calls nuns, leaves message, asks why they can’t answer phone

The Associated Press

Published 11:54 am, Saturday, January 4, 2014

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Pope Francis delivers his blessing during the Angelus noon prayer he celebrated from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014. "We are all children of one heavenly father, we belong to the same human family and we share a common destiny," Francis said, as tens of thousands of faithful, tourists and Romans jammed St. Peter's Square. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) less

Pope Francis delivers his blessing during the Angelus noon prayer he celebrated from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014. "We are all children of ... more

Photo: AP

Pope calls nuns, leaves message, asks why they can’t answer phone

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VATICAN CITY >> Pope Francis has made another one of his cold calls to wish a group of nuns in a Spanish convent Happy New Year. Only he got their answering machine, instead.

“What are the nuns doing that they can’t answer the phone?” Francis asked in the message he left, the recording of which was obtained by Spain’s El Mundo newspaper and broadcast on Italian media Saturday.

“This is Pope Francis. I wanted to offer you greetings for the end of the year. Maybe I’ll try to call again later. May God bless you,” he said.

Francis has made a habit out of calling people out of the blue, often checking in with ordinary folk who have written him about their hardships. He places the calls himself, as evidenced by the message.